Photo of Two Worlds

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Photos of Plants

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Spraying of Invasives

This year we focused on reducing populations of Canada Thistle and Reed Canary Grass. Click on photo:

We purchased a retired bean buggy and re-worked it to use as a thistle busting machine. We added drip free spot spray wands and a 6' boom on the back end. Although it came with three seats, it is a job best done alone. The wheel track makes a six foot wide easy to follow mark. I can ride around 8 acres in a long day. The boom was rarely used. It was best for dense patches in which it was very effective. This machine has an electric starting engine and electric pumps. Hydrostatic drive and power steering. This method was much more efficient and effective than using our ATV. The ATV and a 6' boom was very effective in spraying thistle patches in the cattails.

We sprayed the Reed Canary Grass clones with a backpack sprayer and 6% glyphosate. This is very effective. We had only twelve clones to spray this season. In 2011, we placed 2x2 oak stakes by 25 clones and sprayed them with 6 percent glyphosate. There was no new growth of reed canary at those sites this season.

Prescribed Burn on Units B & C

Prescribed Burn Photo's 4-30-2012 Unit A

Dan Ruby igniting prairie with drip torch.

Janeen Ruby, Burn Boss

Burn Baby Burn.....

Update 3-25-2012

Hydrology monitoring started this past Thursday.

Water table is lower than last spring.

Good numbers of frogs. Simply Amazing!

Small numbers of waterfowl are here nesting.

Hearing several roosters and seeing one nice group of hens.

I am limiting my visits to RWB to Thursday's when I monitor on foot.

No amazing photo's yet.....

Snows and Blues are here.

Now is the time to bird for Waterfowl!

Snows, blues, Canada's and a wide mix of ducks are roosting on Basins B and C.

We may have disturbed Basin A, the wetland closest to the house.

Thousands of waterfowl were on it until 5pm when somebody took Araila for a stroller ride.

It was great while it lasted. Some will be back tomorrow.

It was fun to watch the snow geese descend by the thousands into B and C.

It's anyone's guess how many birds there actually were. Thousands........

Bird watching tip: When watching waterfowl (Snow geese) keep the car rolling. They tend to take wing when you stop and stare at them. Snow geese are scared of most anything. Last year, I stopped to put the spotting scope on the window and all of the birds in Basin B nearly 1/2 mile away got up. It happens to the best of us.

Get out and watch the waterfowl.

All you need is a drivers liscence and you don't have to eat'em.

They are only here for a few day.